England’s unbeaten run continued as they salvaged a 1-1 draw in Turin last night despite a disjointed performance.
Andros Townsend came off the bench to score a wonderful individual equaliser with 11 minutes remaining on a mixed night for Roy Hodgson on his return to Italy.
“They were difficult to break down. It was always going to need a goal from 20 yards or so to peg them back,” Townsend said. “After the equaliser it was all us. We had two or three chances to win it, but it’s a good result.”
Many of Hodgson’s experiments backfired and were abandoned early on, most notably the use of Phil Jones in midfield and Theo Walcott as a central striker, but the manager will take heart from the resolve his players showed.
England had been outplayed for long periods, but Italy lost their fluency after making six substitutions in the space of 11 minutes, and with the visiting side finishing st

Nathan Hughes received a three-week suspension last night for the collision
that knocked George North, the Northampton Saints wing, unconscious on
Friday night. Wasps did not believe that the incident warranted a red card,
let alone a ban, and are considering whether to appeal.
The disciplinary panel accepted that there had been no intent, but Hughes was
found guilty of being reckless because his knee connected with North’s head
after the Wales international had scored a try.
Hughes’ suspension began with immediate effect and runs until April 28. It
rules the Fijian No 8 out of Wasps’ European Champions Cup quarter-final
against Toulon on Sunday, as well as the Aviva Premiership fixtures against
London Welsh and Exeter Chiefs, pending any appeal.
“I don’t think it was a red card and most people thought that,” Dai Young, the
Wasps director of rugby, said b

Chelsea are monitoring Theo Walcott’s contract situation at Arsenal and may
make a move to sign him if he becomes available in the summer. The England
forward will have 12 months remaining on his contract at the end of the
season, but has yet to be offered a new deal by Arsenal.
Chelsea were interested in Walcott when he entered the final 12 months of his
previous contract three years ago, before he eventually signed a new deal at
the Emirates Stadium, and he retains admirers at Stamford Bridge.
The west London club are acutely conscious of their need to increase the
number of home-grown players in their first team after the departures of
Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole in recent years and signing Walcott would
enable them to do that, as well as adding quality, versatility and
experience to José Mourinho’s squad.
John Terry, Gary Cahill and Cesc Fàbregas ar